The L.A. Times music blog

It's official: The Beatles are on iTunes

November 16, 2010 | 7:44
am

Nearly a decade after Apple Inc. introduced iTunes, the digital downloading service has finally acquired the music of the Beatles. Apple on Tuesday rolled out the Fab Four’s music for legal downloading for the first time, offering 17 albums encompassing all 13 of the group’s original studio albums, the two “Past Masters” collections of non-album tracks, two double-album hits compilations and a box set including everything except the hits collections.

Individual tracks are being sold for $1.29, the single albums for $12.99, double sets for $19.99, and the box set is priced at $149. The digital box set also includes an exclusive-to-iTunes concert film, "Live at Washington Coliseum, 1964," never previously released officially.

"We're really excited to bring the Beatles' music to iTunes," Paul McCartney said in a statement issued Tuesday. "It's fantastic to see the songs we originally released on vinyl receive as much love in the digital world as they did the first time around."

"I am particularly glad to no longer be asked when the Beatles are coming to iTunes," Ringo Starr added in the same statement. "At last, if you want it -- you can get it now.”

Apple Chief Executive Steve Jobs said, "It has been a long and winding road to get here. Thanks to the Beatles and EMI, we are now realizing a dream we've had since we launched iTunes 10 years ago."

“It’s great to see Apple finally joining civilization here in 2010,” said Chris Carter, host of the long-running “Breakfast With the Beatles” program on KLOS-FM (95.5) in Southern California and on Sirius XM Satellite radio.